Dr Siobhan Weare
Reader in LawResearch Overview
Siobhan's research interests are focused in the areas of criminal law and criminal justice. Her research explores the socio-legal responses to, and experiences of, male survivors of sexual violence. She is currently leading an ESRC funded project examining jury decision making in cases of rape and sexual abuse involving male victims.
Siobhan is also interested in the socio-legal responses to women who commit serious offences, including homicide and sexual violence.
Research Grants
Siobhan is currently leading (2023-2026) an ESRC funded research project (£438,635), examining jury decision making in cases of rape and sexual abuse involving male victims. Dr Dominic Willmott at Loughborough University is Co-I on this project.
Between 2020-2021, Siobhan co-led the JiCSAV (Justice in Covid-19 for Sexual Abuse and Violence) research project which identified the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on sexual offences cases within the criminal justice system, as well as exploring innovations in policy and practice of value for the duration of the pandemic and beyond. This research was funded by the ESRC-UKRI Covid-19 Rapid Response Fund (£213,785).
In 2018-2019, Siobhan conducted the first study in the UK on ‘forced-to-penetrate’ cases, interviewing male survivors about their experiences of this form of sexual violence. She was awarded funding from the British Academy to support this work (£9,987).
Research Interests
Criminal law and criminal justice (sexual offences, homicide, domestic abuse), gender (masculinities, femininities, gender and crime, gender theories) and criminal legal and criminological theories
Current Teaching
Siobhan convenes the first year core module Law 101x/y English Legal System and Methods, and the third year optional module Crim 314 Sex Crimes and Sexual Offending.
Additional Information
Siobhan is Director of Engagement and Impact in the Law School.
Web Links
Twitter: @SiobhanWeare https://twitter.com/SiobhanWeare
PhD Supervision Interests
Criminal law; gendered violence; homicide; sexual offences; gender and the law
Trial by gender? Examining jury decision making in cases of rape and sexual abuse involving male victims
01/09/2023 → 28/02/2026
Research
COVID-19: Impact of Covid-19 on criminal justice journeys of adult and child survivors of sexual violence and abuse
20/11/2020 → 20/05/2022
Research
JiCSAV: Justice in Covid-19 for Sexual Abuse and Violence: Impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on criminal justice journeys of adult and child survivors of sexual abuse, rape, and sexual assault
20/11/2020 → 19/05/2022
Research
Understanding public perceptions of male survivors of sexual violence
02/11/2020 → 31/01/2022
Research
National Male Survivors Helpline: Review of data
01/02/2019 → 31/03/2020
Research
Experiences of men ‘forced-to-penetrate’ women in the UK
01/05/2018 → 30/09/2019
Research
Forced to penetrate cases: lived experiences of men
01/12/2016 → 13/12/2019
Research
RCUK-SUP: Inspiring the Next Generation of Researchers
01/01/2013 → 31/12/2016
Research
Understanding the experiences of men 'forced-to-penetrate' women in the UK
Invited talk
Understanding the experiences of men forced-to-penetrate women in the UK
Business Course/Training
Journal of Criminal Psychology (Journal)
Editorial activity
Cited in Law Commission 'Evidence in Sexual Offence Prosecutions: A consultation paper'
Other
Understanding the experiences of men forced-to-penetrate women in the UK
Invited talk
Written evidence submitted to the Law Commission 'Evidence in Sexual Offence Prosecutions' project
Non-governmental organization
Justice in Covid-19 for Sexual Abuse and Violence
Oral presentation
St Mary's Annual Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Understanding the experiences of men forced-to-penetrate women in the UK
Invited talk
Understanding the experiences of men forced-to-penetrate women in the UK
Invited talk
Contributor to Home Office Roundtable on 'Development of refreshed Male Victims Position Statement'
Government
Written evidence to Home Office 'Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy Consultation'
Government
Expert advisor, contributor, and reviewer of the 'Quality Standards for Services Supporting Male Victims/ Survivors of Sexual Abuse'
Expert Opinion
Association for the Study of Law, Culture and the Humanities
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
SLSA Annual Conference 2016
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Corpus Linguistics in the South 10
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
LSA Annual Conference 2015, Seattle
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Re-examining legal and criminal justice responses to rape
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Re-examining legal and criminal justice responses to rape
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
SLSA Annual Conference 2015, Warwick
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Association for the Study of Law, Culture and the Humanities
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
The Luminary (Journal)
Editorial activity
Modern Law Review Seminar - Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Offences, Offenders and Victims
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Modern Law Review Seminar – Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation: Offences, Offenders and Victims
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
PECANS Law, Gender and Sexuality Workshop 2013 - Encounters with Vulnerability
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Postgraduate Research in Progress: Reflecting on the Impact of Gender in Research, Liverpool University
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
SLSA Annual Conference 2013
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Current Issues in Child Sexual Exploitation and the Law
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Work in Progress
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
The Luminary (Journal)
Editorial activity
Research Impact Award - Lancaster University Staff Awards 2021
Prize (including medals and awards)
- Centre for Crime, Law and Justice